Federer downs Berdych to book Open semi spot

Roger Federer advanced to his 12th Australian Open semi-final on Tuesday with an efficient 7-6(4) 6-2 6-4 victory over sixth seed Tomas Berdych.

Roger Federer of Switzerland signs autographs on broadcast camera after defeating David Goffin of Belgium during their fourth round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 24 January 2016. Cool as a cucumber off the court, temperatures on it are unrivalled.

“The Australian Open released a statement on Sunday saying, “(the) referee reviewed the situation…as Nick walked on to the court before his match he answered a phone call then hung up.

Williams is 8-0 against Radwanska, including their meeting in the 2012 Wimbledon final.

The win makes Federer the oldest man since 1979 to reach the Australian Open semifinals. From there, Williams protected her own serve — even as a baby wailed in the stands in the ninth game as she faced breakpoints — and took high-risk options with her service returns to unsettle Sharapova.

Federer found the target with almost 70 percent of his first serves and won 83 percent of those points, hit 48 winners and made only 26 unforced errors to smother the sixth seed in two hours and 16 minutes. I know some people might not like it. I like it. He’s got a lot of personality. It’s where it all sort of started for me when I came on tour. I knew that I [was] going to play against an opponent that plays very fast, faster than Simon (and) makes also more unforced errors.

Federer, however, was not prepared to allow the 25-year-old Goffin, who anchored his country to last year’s Davis Cup final against Britain, such leeway when they began their match.

Sharapova, the 2008 champion and a three-time runner-up, needed four set points to clinch the opening set, including two in the 10th game.

“He’s been struggling to show (it), to be quite honest”, Federer said then. Despite more than 11 years in between, Sharapova isn’t giving up hope of breaking that drought.

“It’s motivating because she’s at a different level”, Sharapova said. He was just too good today.

He will play the victor of the match between Novak Djokovic and Kei Nishikori.

“I always try to prepare the best I can and try to play well and the results are the proof and I am going to try to do the same for the rest of the tournament”, Berdych said. “I was playing well tactically with the right game plan”.

“But I still believe it’s a big difference top 10 for a week or for a year or for multiple years, and getting there is not easy”.

“I have had those conversations with them, that hard work brings you somewhere”, said the Swiss star who has won a record 17 Grand Slams.

That is true, but the problem for Federer has been making it happen in the last round of a major. Reaching the fourth round equaled his best Grand Slam effort. Not that I’m not confident…